How Concerned Are You About Hotel Room Safety? Here’s My Approach…

OMAAT reader Julie asked me a question about hotel room safety and security, and what precautions I take, if any. It’s a great question, so let’s talk more specifically about that, as I’m also curious to hear how others handle this kind of stuff.

The basic safety precautions I take in hotel rooms

When it comes to hotels, I’ve written in the past about my hotel habits (from the logical to irrational), my housekeeping habits and strategy, and my biggest hotel pet peeves. So, how does security factor into all of this?

My hotel safety precautions are pretty simple:

• When I first arrive at my hotel room after checking in, I enter the room slowly, and say something like “hello,” as I’ve (on more than one occasion) been given a key to a room that was already occupied
• I do a quick walk through of the room, including checking the closets, under the bed, etc.; however, that’s perhaps partly more paranoia than anything rational
• I discard the little “pouch” in which the hotel gives me the key, so that if I lose my key, no one will know which room I’m in; instead, I either write down my room number in a note on my phone, or take a picture of the door
• If I get a weird feeling about someone in the elevator or like they’re following me, I’ll just go somewhere else, and not go straight to my room
• Place items in the in-room safe, but don’t assume that’s completely safe either, because it can also be broken into, if it’s an inside job
• I always use the deadbolt when I’m in the room, whether I’m awake or asleep; always, always, always, always, always, always, always, always, always

In theory, I think the above precautions do the trick. I think using the deadbolt is the single most important thing you can do.

Let me of course acknowledge that I’m a male traveler, and I realize that female travelers often face more challenges and risks, so it’s even more important for them to be vigilant. I also know that some people are concerned about secret cameras being set up in rooms. That’s not something I’m worried about, but I understand why others may be.

It’s also worth emphasizing that you should take different levels of precautions based on where in the world you are. Like, I’m much less concerned about hotel room safety in a place like Japan than in a place like… well, take your pick.

What’s reassuring about hotel safety, and what isn’t

If you ask me, there are some things that are reassuring about hotel room safety. There are typically limited entry and exit points in hotels, there are security cameras around the hallway, and there’s limited upside to someone breaking in and stealing something (since there’s usually not that much to steal). You’re also typically in close proximity to others, so a loud scream would be heard more easily than in other scenarios.

At the same time, the increased risk in hotels is that there are many people with master keys, who can potentially access all rooms. That’s why always using the deadbolt when you’re in the room is so important.

If you use the deadbolt in your room, I tend to think that addresses 90% of potential concerns. All too often we hear of someone walking in on another person sleeping in a hotel room, and without exception, that happens when the deadbolt isn’t being used.

I tend to think that a vast majority of the other risk at hotels is similar to what you might find elsewhere. For example, having someone spike your drink at the hotel bar, having someone steal something from you out in the open, inviting someone with bad intentions to your room, etc.

Bottom line

It’s important to take basic safety precautions at hotels. I tend to think that simply using the deadbolt while in the room covers 90% of the potential risks, since the most common hotel crime we hear of is someone accessing a room with a master key, or something.

There are some other basic precautions I take, but I tend to think that the deadbolt is the single most important thing. Despite that, so many people don’t use it…

I’m curious how you guys feel about hotel room security — is it something that crosses your mind, and if so, what precautions do you take?